Work in Progress: 23rd August

posted by Martyn de Young on Mon, 27/08/2012 - 00:46

Overcast, dull, summer weather today seemed to keep people away from the beaches and into the other tourist attractions here in North Devon, thus helping to boost visitor numbers at Woody Bay. Well done to the shop and tea rooms staff who worked solidly throughout the day ensuring all the customers were well catered for. It was busy at the station with high loadings recorded on several trains.

1. AXE with the passenger train crossing Bridge 67 on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.

2. The next train also seen from the lineside at Bridge 67.

3. Another view from the lineside, with AXE, and Holdstone Down in the distance.

Today's tasks for the depleted Thursday Gang included Creocoting the Killington Lane waiting shelter and the loco shed crew room - both recently moved back from the track to accomodate the Heritage Coaches due next year - sorting and restacking sleepers alongside the line near Bridge 67, and further work on ex-MoD Box Van SR No.47064 in the shed.

4. AXE passes the sleeper stacks with the first train of the day.

The plan was to consolidate the piles into new stacks, separating and grading as appropriate. All good/reusable sleepers were turned with any old holes facing downwards to prevent rotting from water input. One stack was for sleepers suitable for main line use, another for second-grade for sidings, and a third stack with shallower depth sleepers. A fourth pile was made for scrap sleepers for later disposal.

5. Later AXE passes Andy Foster resting by the completed resorted sleeper stacks near Bridge 67.

6. Brom Bromidge also came down to help us at Bridge 67 by collecting up the piles of old Pandrol clips into plastic buckets.

7. After completing the restacking and tidying up of this part of the lineside, Brom, Andy and Nigel Thompson pose for the camera (taken by Graham Bendell).

8. Brom painting Creocote onto the Killington Lane Shelter.

9. The crew room shed after re-Creocoting today by the Thursday Gang volunteers.

10. General Manager Martyn Budd was away on holiday, and other staff members were also away, so regular weekend volunteer Philip Shelton was smartly dressed as Duty Controller for the day.

11. With driver Peter Miles and Fireman Jim Price, young enthusiast Callum Bagg enjoys his time on AXE's footplate at Killington Lane.

12. Today's driver, L&BR Trust and Railway Company Chairman Peter Miles, with Fireman Jim Price enjoy a well-earnt cuppa by AXE at Woody Bay before working their next train.